In his last 18 games, including last night, Alex Rodriguez’ BA/OBA/SLG line is .290/.378/.667 (in 82 PA).

And, in fact, A-Rod has slugged 8 homeruns and had 23 RBI in these 18 games.

However, the Yankees have gone 7-11 in these same 18 games. And, half of those eight big flies by Alex have come in games that the Yankees lost.

Overall, this season, to date, the Yankees are 18-7 in games when A-Rod hits a homerun. So, this “homering in losses” thing is somewhat isolated to the last 18 games for Rodriguez.

Of course, if the Yankees were playing better, this would all be moot since then the homeruns would have come in wins. But, clearly, as great as A-Rod has been swinging the bat lately, it hasn’t translated into many wins for the team.

Comments on A-Rod’s Strong Finish While Yankees Are Losing

Last year, when A-Rod hit #30 in Tampa, there was a post with something to the effect of him hitting that second HR in an act of selfishness. As if batters are supposed to swing and miss on purpose, just so no one gets the wrong idea.

We’ll just have to see if he has any HR’s this postseason and if they translate to wins. My guess is yes.

I’m with you. And I find it encouraging that Alex is playing his best baseball right now. If he can stay hot for another few weeks, he gives the Yanks a really good shot to win again. He’s the only impact bat in the lineup at this point (beyond Granderson).

Of course, if the Yankees were playing better, this would all be moot since then the homeruns would have come in wins. But, clearly, as great as A-Rod has been swinging the bat lately, it hasn’t translated into many wins for the team.

@ Steve Lombardi:
It has nothing to do with the truth, it has to do with your slant. You’re making it seem like the Yankees are losing because A-Rod is hitting home runs, or that A-Rod only wants to hit home runs when they are losing.

I mean, I feel like an Indians fan beating the same drum for years…there has to be a time where you can let it go otherwise you’re going to drive yourself nuts for the better part of this decade.

Wouldn’t it just have been easier for everyone involved to say that its pretty transparently a *good* thing that the team’s best offensive player is getting hot heading into the playoffs following a year where he was out-of-his-mind hot in the playoffs?

Steve, I guess the point is what’s the point? Yes, these are facts, but what does it have to do with anything? The way I read it is that they would be worse than 7-11 in these last 18 games if A-Rod wasn’t hitting so well. Is that your argument? Likely not It seems like you’re making the argument that A-Rod’s hitting is not beneficial to the team because everyone else has decided to suck (other than Granderson) while A-Rod has went on a tear.

But, as JeremyM wrote directly above, why is this a noteworthy fact to point out?

It’s the “team first” concept in me, I guess? Many are quick to point out how great A-Rod (and Grandy) have been lately. And, my first thought to that is “What does it mean for the team?” – because the team result is all that matters, in the end. Thus, that’s why I wanted to see, and share, what I found WRT to how the good recent fortunes of batter have helped the team, or not, or how much, etc.

MJ Recanati wrote:
But, as JeremyM wrote directly above, why is this a noteworthy fact to point out?
It’s the “team first” concept in me, I guess? Many are quick to point out how great A-Rod (and Grandy) have been lately. And, my first thought to that is “What does it mean for the team?” – because the team result is all that matters, in the end. Thus, that’s why I wanted to see, and share, what I found WRT to how the good recent fortunes of batter have helped the team, or not, or how much, etc.

Steve, I was all ready to post this:

This where I don’t get it, I didn’t see any slant about A-Rod. These were all, as Steve put it, FACTS. Why are people so paranoid when it comes to all things A-Rod?

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But then I just saw your last comment, now I see the slant. You’re off here, IMHO.

What does it say about the state of Yankees fans, if, on the morning of September 30th, the biggest discussion topic is whether or not A-Rod is being properly respected as opposed to discussing the impact of Andy Pettitte’s bad back and the impact it may have on the team’s chances in the ALDS?

What does it say about the state of Yankees fans, if, on the morning of September 30th, the biggest discussion topic is whether or not A-Rod is being properly respected as opposed to discussing the impact of Andy Pettitte’s bad back and the impact it may have on the team’s chances in the ALDS?

Because Pettite’s bad back requires a doctor, perpetuating a fraud that certain players only do well when the Yankees lose is something we can easily prove you wrong on. IMHO.

Steve, it just comes across as petty, like these players kicked your dog or something. I certainly didn’t have a problem with your original post and your initial defense of it in the comments section, but then you started associating their success with the Yankees losing and I think many people don’t see the correlation. So, very simply, how do you see that correlation?

Basically what I’d like to see is a bunch of FACTS that prove these players only want to play well when the Yanks lose. If you can’t supply that information, then it’s real easy to see why this is being challenged more than stating there’s empirical evidence stating Pettite has a bad back.

I’d be more concerned with the teams record when a starting pitcher can’t get through the 5th inning, when a reliever blows a lead or when the players leave a small village on the bases more than the Yankees record when A-Rod hits a HR.

Whoa. When did I say that here? Did you miss the part where I wrote:
Overall, this season, to date, the Yankees are 18-7 in games when A-Rod hits a homerun.

No, you implied it here:

Steve Lombardi wrote:

Many are quick to point out how great A-Rod (and Grandy) have been lately. And, my first thought to that is “What does it mean for the team?” – because the team result is all that matters, in the end. Thus, that’s why I wanted to see, and share, what I found WRT to how the good recent fortunes of batter have helped the team, or not, or how much, etc.

Well, all I know is that the TEAM doesn’t win the Series last year without him, and doesn’t sniff the playoffs a few years during his time with the club. And the spectacle seems to have basically disappeared from the guy, so I have no problems with him. I’d sure take another October like last season from him….

Garcia wrote:
No, you implied it
One man’s “you implied it” is another man’s “you’re putting words in my mouth that aren’t there.”

Wow, Steve, you were pretty explicit here:Steve Lombardi wrote:

So, that tells us that as great as A-Rod AND Grandy have been swinging the bat lately, it hasn’t translated into many wins for the team.

So the moral of the story, when they play good the Yanks lose and you somehow see a correlation there. Again, I had no problem with your original post, but in the comments section you made it pretty obvious what you trying to imply and then explicitly stated. So, no, I never put words in your mouth that weren’t already set in motion by your own boca.

+1.761 WPA for 20 games is +14 WPA for the season. That simply never happens.

Included in this 20-game stretch are 3 enormous, game reversing blows by A-Rod in the late innings, only 2 of which became the game-winning blows because of Mariano blowing 2 saves.

A-Rod’s been huge in pushing the Yanks toward wins in this stretch. Granderson’s had a number of huge hits himself. The rest of the team has been pushing harder in the other direction, that’s all.

What this points up is the absurdity of the idea that one player (or even two) can “carry” a baseball team for any significant length of time.
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To be fair, I really don’t think Steve meant to insult A-Rod here. More of a lament that all of his good hitting has been to little effect. I didn’t detect any snark in his original post.